Restraint-free care. Part 1: Legal and regulatory mandates. Part 2: Creating a restraint-free environment

In response to the revised 1996 Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's restraint standards, many facilities are assessing and revising their current practice. Part 1 discusses the regulatory, legal and ethical dimensions of patient restraints. Part 2 describes one hospital's approach to promoting a restraint-free environment. As a result of this hospital's assessment, restraint use decreased 25% in intubated patients; 50% in nonintubated patients.